The Close-Up by Pip Drysdale
(HarperCollins)

Zoe Ann Weiss was a promising novelist, but after a failed debut, she’s faced with a mountain of debt, a dead-end job and serious writer’s block. One day Zoe bumps into her old flame Zach Hamilton, now an up-and-coming movie star surrounded by paparazzi. When they start dating again in secret, Zoe breaks through her writer’s block, and it feels like her life is back on track. But when photos of their relationship are leaked, Zoe captures the attention of a stalker who begins to re-enact sinister scenes from her first novel – and Zoe is the victim. A slow-burn thriller with a surprising twist in the final chapters. Belinda, Christchurch

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When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson
(Walker Books)

The Fall kids and their mother are muddling through life after the disappearance of their father. When a mysterious rainbow-haired teenager, Cassidy, appears out of nowhere, she tips the Falls’ world over. Who is she? And is her presence in their lives coincidental, or intentional? She touches each of the siblings’ lives in a profound way, and they soon discover that Cassidy might be the key to unlocking their family secrets.

With lyrical language, fascinating characters and a unique plot, this enchanting novel is one of my top reads ever! Highly recommend. Belinda, Christchurch

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